The Limelight Chart – our exclusive chart ranking the top 20 best-selling classical CDs and DVDs according to the monthly sales figures drawn from Australia’s classical specialist stores. Limelight’s specially assembled list is the only chart of its kind in Australia admitting only pure classical releases. We aim to reflect the listening and buying habits of our readers, who are serious about their classical music.
1. Orava Quartet
Deutsche Grammophon 4816874 – New to the limelight chart
Rising star Australian ensemble the Orava Quartet has released their debut album on Deutsche Grammophon in Australia, featuring Tchaikovsky’s First String Quartet, Shostakovich’s Eighth String Quartet and the two movements of Rachmaninov’s String Quartet – and, as a bonus, Rachmaninov’s Vocalise with special guest Greta Bradman.
Feature: THE ORAVA QUARTET – FOUR’S COMPANY
Buoyed by a residency with the legendary Takács Quartet and now boasting a major record deal, the Orava Quartet is taking the chamber music world by storm.
2. Sally Whitwell
ABC Classics 4816952 – New to The Limelight Chart
3. Cello Napoletano
ABC Classics 4816359 – Featured as Number 5 in March 2018
Cello works from the south turn out to be Neapolitan baroque treat.
4. New Year’s Concert 2018
SONY 88985470582 – New to the Limelight Chart
5. Bach: Cello Suites Volume II
ABC Classics 4816472 – Featured as Number 1 in March 2018
The highly anticipated sequel to Australian guitarist Slava Grigoryan’s wildly successful recording of JS Bach’s Cello Suites, Volume II completes the set with Suites 4, 5 and 6. While Suites 4 and 5 can be played in their original keys on the resonant baritone guitar, Grigoryan returns to the standard classical guitar for the final Suite.
FEATURE: GRIGORYAN’S BACH FOR MORE WITH CELLO SUITES VOLUME II
With his new album on the shelves, the guitarist talks about the peace and purity of Bach – despite some noisy frogs.
6. Clarke’s Classics
ABC Classics 4828548 – Featured as Number 3 in March 2018
ABC Classics has released an album of the beloved satirist’s stint as a guest presenter who brought “balance” to the station.
7. Mozart’s Last Symphonies
ABC CLASSICS 4812880 – Featured as Number 10 in March 2018
8. Dolce Duello
DECCA 4832473 – Featured as Number 11 in March 2018
9. Schubert: Trout Quintet
DG 4797570 – Featured as Number 15 in March 2018
DG’s bigger fish reel in a particularly dramatic Trout.
10. Bach: Cello Suites Volume 1
ABC Classics 4814553 – Featured as Number 4 in March 2018
11. Inspiration
Decca 4832948 – New to the Limelight Chart
12. Brahms: The Piano Trios
SONY 88985407292 – Featured as Number 19 in March 2018
Ma, Ax and Kavakos give exhilarating accounts of old favourites.
13. Songs Without Words
ABC Classics 4815101 – Featured as Number 6 in March 2018
14. Debussy: Works for Solo Piano
Deutsche Grammohpon 4798741 – New to the Limelight Chart
RELATED: BARENBOIM TO BRING THE STAATSKAPELLE BERLIN TO SYDNEY
Barenboim himself has not been seen in Australia since 1970, and this is the first time he has brought his Orchestra here.
15. The Beauty of the Violin
ABC CLASSICS 4816755 – New to the Limelight Chart
16. Handel: Arias
Deutsche Grammophon 4797541 – New to the Limelight Chart
17. Debussy: Works for Solo Piano
Deutsche Grammophon 4798308 – New to the Limelight Chart
18. Eileen Joyce: The Complete Studio Recordings
Eloquence 4826291 – New to the Limelight chart
Currently unavailable on Apple Music.
REISSUES ROUND-UP: OUR VERY OWN DARLING EILEEN
The Tasmanian-born pianist is celebrated with a generous 10-disc box set.
19. Strauss: An Alpine Symphony
ABC Classics 4816754 – New to the Limelight chart
20. Cello At The Opera
ABC CLASSICS 4815098 – Featured as Number 20 in March 2018
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